Weekly Skinspiration June 5, 2017

Dermatology Pearl: How to Wash your Face

Did you know there are “correct” ways to wash your face?! I didn’t either until I saw this AAD video on the proper techniques to cleanse your face. See the tips below:

• Use a mild gentle cleanser that doesn’t dry out your face. Avoid ingredients like isopropyl alcohol, antibacterial, deodorant soaps as they can dry out your skin.
• Dampen your face with lukewarm water (not hot!) and use the tips of your fingers to massage the cleaner into your face. Your fingertips apply the perfect amount of pressure; stay away from using anything else to scrub the face that can irritate your skin.
• Pat dry with a soft towel. Again, don’t scrub your face, just dab at it. Skin is more sensitive than you think! My mother-in-law once told me that my face is not like a kitchen floor – you do not have to rub it as if you’re cleaning one!
• Apply moisturizer. Use night cream at night and a moisturizer/sunscreen (SPF > 30!) in the morning. When you use eye cream at night, dermatologists recommend using your 4th finger for application because that exerts the least amount of pressure out of your functional fingers (I mean, the pinky is pretty useless).
• Wash your face twice a day and after sweating. This is probably the most controversial bullet because a lot of people (dermatologists included) recommend foregoing the morning wash since it will just unnecessarily dry out your skin. As I mention in my morning routine post, whether or not I wash my face in the AM depends on the products I used the night before. If it’s something thick or medicated, I wash my face; otherwise, I just splash some water on. Definitely wash your face after sweating though, because you don’t want to your pores to get clogged up with oil leading to breakouts. This means wash your pretty face after you hit the gym or anytime you wear a hat or visor.
• Don’t overuse retinoids, which can make your face dry and scaly; remember that the proper way to use tretinoin is to use a pea sized amount for the entire face, starting off 2-3 times per week at night, and then increasing only as tolerated to nightly.

 

Beauty Review

Tarte Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint

 

I received a sample of the Tarte Tarteist creamy matte lip paint in nude as part of my ipsy monthly subscription bag, and I surprisingly really liked this product! This is a creamy, smooth, liquid lipstick that goes on with a matte sheen. I actually enjoy the matte look when I don’t want to appear too done up, and the nude color is perfect to add just a touch of color. The texture is velvety smooth and it’s easy to apply and match the contours of your lip without smudging. The best thing about this liquid lipstick is the staying power; even after eating two meals, I STILL had color on my lips and it didn’t even look messy! I’m a huge fan of this product and will purchase full size ones in different colors (Birthday Suit and pinky coral are high contenders!).

Fashion Find

I received a few of my orders from last week and wanted to share a few that I’m going to be wearing a lot in the upcoming summer months:

Off the shoulder front tie denim blouse in XXS: so cute and very flattering since it poufs out and nobody can tell if you’ve just had a huge meal. The front tie is a special detail and the off the shoulder elastic clings tightly enough that it doesn’t slip off or ride up. Pair it with some dangly earrings and a pair of white jeans or shorts for a casual evening out.

Floral Print ruffle front romper: at only $35 (40% off original price), this romper is a steal! The rayon material feels silky smooth and comfortable against skin and the ruffles add a feminine touch. The back has a keyhole cut-out with a back button closure. I will say that it took me a few tries to get the button open and closed. It gave me a little bit of anxiety when I had to use public restrooms because the little buttonhole elastic string is really tiny and hard to handle! I finally got the hang of it but it did take some time…

Also side note: the little cupcake bakeshop I’m in front of has the best blue velvet (made with fresh blueberries!) I’ve EVER HAD.

Life Update

I’ve been having kind of a comical week on consults hobbling around in an air cast. On the first day (Tuesday) my coresident was kind enough to wheel me in a wheelchair to see patients, and then later, my attending was kind enough to do the same for me to see other inpatients! The air cast is bulky but it is a lifesaver in case you ever sprain your ankle. It saved me this week because it stabilized my foot in such a way that I could walk. It’s the extra cushion inside the cast around the ankles that you pump up with a hand pump, giving your painful ankle extra padding and cushioning. I’ve now healed to the point that I can get around without a cast, but I still have to be really careful because the ankle is not completely steady and I feel like I could easily re-sprain it.

In terms of work:

• Being on consults is kind of REALLY COOL because it’s actually a privilege to be a consultant for the primary team. We are called because these patients have rashes or some other skin finding that is odd and they want an expert opinion. Even if we don’t know what it is just from looking at it, we can biopsy it and examine the tissue for diagnosis at a cellular level. I’ve gotten to see so many interesting cases this week and I still have 2 more weeks to go.

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• Interesting factoid of the week: in lecture we were learning about scurvy, a condition people get with vitamin C deficiency. These patients get corkscrew hairs, hemorrhage, hypochondriasis, hematologic abnormalities, and hyperkeratosis (all H’s if you want a good mnemonic). We debated for a good five minutes about whether hypochondriasis meant reduced cartilage formation vs. having delusions about being sick. In the end, our faculty member clarified that the patients have delusions about being sick. Confusing!

Have a good week!

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